Nancy Krebs – Moved by God - Catholic CD Review

Nancy Krebs is a seasoned performer, having recorded 6 beautiful albums of meditation-style music marked by deeply thoughtful lyrics and fine storytelling. Her 7th CD, Moved by God, continues in this tradition but takes a major leap forward musically.

For the first time, I feel the musical arranging matches up to the quality of the songwriting. Soft contemporary instrumentation and whispered background vocals beautifully complement Nancy’s pure, effortless vocals, framing her lyrics.

Thematically, Moved by God is about movement. “These songs all contain some kind of ‘movement’: turning outward, inward, upward or downward in the direction that God would have us go,” Nancy writes in her liner notes. The artwork on the cover also beautifully conveys this theme.

Each of the 12 songs is top notch. Among my favorites is “The Quiet,” a gentle invitation to retreat to a place of silence to regain your center. The music sets the perfect tone and mood to achieve quiet in the midst of chaos.

I also love “Welcome Me Home,” a song loosely based on the parable of the Prodigal Son. It has a bossa nova feel to it, supporting the lyrics in painting the picture of a gentle and merciful Father.

“Mary Knew” is one of the most touching story songs Nancy has ever written. Her vocals perfectly punctuated the lyrics and took me deep into the story of the mother and Son and the special love they shared. I was truly moved and wanted to revisit that story again and again.

“We Adore You” and “Road to Emmaus” are two of the most upbeat songs on the album. “We Adore You” builds gloriously through the clever use of background vocals, while “Road to Emmaus” builds through the lyrics and the dramatic lead vocal.

All the songs achieve their goal – transporting the listener to the heart of God. I keep listening to Moved by God over and over to get back to that place.

You will too. You can purchase Moved by God through Nancy’s website at www.nancykrebs.com.